AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Nikolai runs his hand through his hair. And I hold my breath, waiting for him to say something … anything.
“Eden,” he finally says. “It doesn’t concern you.”
“Can’t you tell me?” I push despite the cruel look on his face.
“Let’s go out to eat.” Nikolai stands, rolling up his sleeves, and a faint grin crosses his lips. “You don’t need to change.”
Wait … what?
When I don’t move, he takes me by my arm and walks us both to the elevator. “Let’s go.”
Nikolai drivesus himself in the Mercedes, and now Iknowsomething is wrong. Nikolai doesn’t seem to take foolish risks, and leaving without his driver is a huge red flag. I try to relax as the car races through the streets, but I grip the seat for dear life when Nikolai cuts off a speeding cab.
Soon, I recognize Times Square ahead of us. And then the Mercedes stops in front of the Somewhere Bar. My heart drops to my stomach when we arrive.
Oh no …
“Here?” I ask in horror.
Nikolai grins like the devil, pleased that I’m in a state of shock that’s turning into panic.
“Are you above slumming it?” he asks. “Besides, Larissa said you wanted to come here.”
I hold my breath as we walk in. The place is quiet for a Friday night. The mahogany bar stretches along the wall with worn leather stools in front. An antique mirror reflects vintage New York sports team photos and memorabilia on the wood-paneled walls. An odd smell of beer, sweat, and burgers fills the room, but it’s not unpleasant. And a brightly lit jukebox plays classic rock and R&B in the corner, the only music the regulars can agree on.
I pray rapidly that Mercy is off tonight.
She isn’t, but luckily, she spots Nikolai first.
The atmosphere in the bar instantly changes, and the chatter stops as patrons turn to look at us by the door. Nikolai walks toward a table in the center of the room as if he owns the bar and looks over at the bartender.
“Table for two,” Nikolai says. “Anywhere.”
The big bald bartender nods, his eyes narrowing on Nikolai as he finishes wiping down the bar. He exchanges a look with Mercy,but they don’t say a word. She walks around the bar and grabs two menus, heading to our table.
“Welcome to the Somewhere Bar.” Mercy hands a menu to Nikolai and then to me, her voice uncharacteristically squeaky as she talks. “The best burgers in town. It’s always five o’clock somewhere.” Mercy stares at Nikolai. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“A bottle of Killian’s,” replies Nikolai, emphasizing thekill.
Mercy looks at me with no sign of recognition on her face. “And you, miss?”
Nikolai watches Mercy, who ignores him with determination while my tongue swells in my mouth. Fear has wiped my brain of all its capacity to think, and I can’t seem to figure out what to do.
“I’ll come back when you decide,” Mercy says before walking away.
“What’s wrong?” Nikolai smirks at me. “Cat got your tongue?”
I sit there miserably, trembling as Nikolai calmly scans the menu. I don’t know where to look or what to say. I don’t know what to think.DidLarissa tell him about the bar? What is he playing at? Does he know about Mercy? That she’s my cousin? Is that why we’re here?
Is he going to hurt her? Is he going to hurt me?
I look past Nikolai’s head, and Mercy has positioned herself out of his line of sight. She holds a small pink smartphone to her ear, making sure I notice it, and then she walks off to the bathroom.
“I have to pee,” I blurt out.
Nikolai eyes me oddly as if I’m unwell. He nods as if I need his permission to go. I get up slowly, carefully making my way to the dim hallway that leads to the bathrooms. My knees threaten to buckle, but I make it inside the ladies’ room.
Oh God, why aren’t I running out of here screaming?
